Vancouver’s PNE Summer Concert Lineup

The PNE Summer Night Concerts are one of the most popular attractions at Vancouver’s annual Pacific National Exhibition in late August and early September.

PNE Summer Night Concerts

The 2019 lineup of music at the PNE includes concerts by Blue Rodeo, Cheap Trick, UB40, Colin James, Vanilla Ice, the Beach Boys, Burton Cummings, MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and others. Of these, Colin James performed at the PNE a couple of years ago, Burton Cummings performed last year, and others like the Beach Boys are also returning from previous seasons.

Every year there are some great bands. Last year, for example, concerts included performances by favourite oldies like Boyz II Men, Air Supply, Kool & the Gang, Jann Arden, Burton Cummings, Chicago, the Village People and Cyndi Lauper.

Concerts and most other fair activities are free with general admission.

See below for details about the 2019 PNE evening concerts. For more information about the PNE in general, click Pacific National Exhibition.

Air Supply Concert at the PNE

2019 Night Concerts

PNE Summer Night Concerts take place at around 8:30 each evening outdoors in the PNE Amphitheatre. They are all free with admission to the fair, although you can pay extra in advance for reserved seats.

Tips and Advice

Below are some suggestions and information to help you make the most out of your concert experience at the PNE.

TIP #1: If you don’t want to stand in line or risk not getting in, and if you don’t mind spending extra, consider reserving your concert seats. The cost varied between about $15 and $30 a couple of years ago. In 2019, however, the cost is between about $38 and $72 depending on the concert. You can pay a lot more too if you want to meet the bands in person.

TIP #2: For the really popular groups, consider reserving your seat well in advance. On the other hand, don’t reserve too far in advance as late August in Vancouver has a tendency to be wet and you might not want to pay extra if it’s going to rain.

Night Concerts Admission

Admission to the PNE Summer Night Concerts is free with general admission to the fair. Unless it’s raining, most concerts fill up however, and the most popular ones almost always sell out.

Every year there are disappointed fans that can’t get in. To avoid disappointment, as mentioned above, advance tickets are available for a fee, ranging from about $38 up to $70 or so.

Amusement Rides and the PNE Amphitheatre

Free Advance Tickets

For the past couple of years, instead of making people line up for hours in the evening to get into the concert venue, the PNE has been issuing concert admission tickets starting at 11 am on the day of each concert.

Beginning at 11 am each day, concert-entrance general admission tickets to the same evening’s concert are available for free at the Ticket Office by the Amphitheatre entrance. New as of last year, you can also reserve your spot on the day online (subject to a nominal fee of about $3). In 2019 people getting tickets this way can get a maximum of two concert tickets per person.

Crowds at the PNE Amphitheatre at Night

When and Where

In 2019 the PNE takes place from August 17th to September 2nd.

The fair is open every day from 11 am until late evening, except for the first and second Mondays of the season when the place is closed. The one Monday when the PNE is open is Labour Day which is the first Monday in September.

The Pacific National Exhibition is located at 2901 East Hastings Street in Vancouver, which is just a few blocks from the Trans-Canada Highway.

Night concerts at the PNE take place every evening at 8:30 pm in the PNE Amphitheatre which is in the northwest corner of the area with all the fair’s rides and midway attractions, so just slightly north of the Ferris wheel.

Other Concerts & Entertainment

In addition to the PNE Summer Night Concerts there is a lot of other free entertainment offered at the fair including the SuperDogs shows. 2019 also offers special nightly performances by Tyrone Reveen, with his “Superconscious Experience” featuring illusion and hypnosis.

Another new feature this year is a nightly pyrotechnic and performance show that will wow the senses. As well, less famous local bands and performing arts groups entertain throughout the day for which admission is also free and advance tickets are not required or available.

Dr. Strangelove on the Festival Park Stage

Festival Park Music Acts

Each year four great bands perform at various times as part of the Festival Park Music Acts series of concerts which are free with general admission. Bands last year were Dr. Strangelove, Side One, the R&R Allstars and Groove & Tonic.

Below is who performs and when in 2019. Live music times are from 7:00 until 8:00 pm and then again from 8:30 until 9:30 pm.

Information on this website is accurate to the best of our ability at the time of writing, but actual details may vary. Vancouver's Best Places does not accept responsibility for loss or inconvenience due to errors. For the most up-to-date information see relevant official websites.

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